How Does Steinbeck Show Loneliness In Of Mice And Men

In this novella, “Of Mice and Men”, written during the Great Depression, takes place in Soledad, California, and also the Salinas River. This story shows the life of laborers at this time that had to move from farm to farm, with low pay, just to make a living for themselves. The protagonists; Lennie and George travel together for work, which is not common for men at this time, and they depend on each other. Even though it is not directly mentioned it is inferred that Lennie is cognitively impaired, which explains why he needs George to assist him. As they go to work on this ranch in Soledad, Lennie makes trouble with the boss’s son Curley, which later became more intense when Lennie kills Curley’s wife. As a result of this Lennie and George’s

Time and time again, George reminds Lennie that he could do so much better without having to take care of him consistently. George doesn’t have to take care of Lennie but he chooses to and tries to keep Lennie out of trouble. George says, “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place…”(Steinbeck 13). This quote shows that laborers at this time had nobody to depend on. For them it was every man for themselves as they carried their lives on their back. George and Lennie are like family and have to stick together. Lennie says, “ But not us! An’ why? Because...because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.” (Steinbeck 14). This quote shows that even though every other laborer travels and are lonesome, Lennie and George have each other to keep company. Loneliness comes to everyone and once you feel it, you can’t shake

As the only African American man on the farm, Crooks is often found being the one the boss lashes out on when he’s upset. As a black man he set apart from the rest of the farm workers, and also because he is disabled, which makes ,him stand out. It is obvious that they don’t like people who stand out, similar to Whitey. Crooks says, “You go on and get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room.” (Steinbeck 68). This quote shows that Crooks was set aside from everyone else because he was different. Loneliness gets to some people when they are left alone for too long. Crooks says, “...Maybe if he sees somethin’, he don’t know whether it’s right or not. He can’t turn to some other guy and ast him if he sees it to. He can’t tell. He got nothing to compare it by…” (Steinbeck 73). This quote shows that being alone for a long time can eat away at your brain and make you hallucinate. Sometimes he can’t tell if what he sees is true sometimes, and has no one to talk to it about it, because he’s different. Loneliness is like a disease itself that slowly but surely kills you, because you can’t